, 1887-09-28
THE VOLUNTEER WINS.
The Thistle Left in the First
of the Three Races.
A Decisive Victory for the
American Sloop.
The Thistle's Officers Talk of
Foul Play.

NEW IOhh, DepI. ZI.- Inc uCkle gOC
of the wind seemed disinclined to favor
the rival yachts this morning and much
interest was manifest in what was to be
the first of the three races between the
Scotch yacht Thistle and the American
yacht Volunteer for the possession of the
American cup. The last finishing touches
had been put upon the yachts and every,
thing supert1uous removed from both the
racers, ever to the private dunnage of the
crews. The conditions were extremely
favorable to the Scotch cutter, as she has
always done her best work in light winds,
and there appeared to be small chance oil
there being anything more than a very
light wind to-day. There was considera.
BILE betting on the race, but it was gov.
erned by patriotism in almost all cases, the
odds ranging all the way from 10 to 6
down to = to | in favor OF the Volunteer.
When the Thistle and Volunteer had
reached the vicinity of the starting line
there were over two hundred yachts and
steamboats, about them, and thousands Of
people were straining for a glimpse at the
racers, but even at Fort Wadsworth,
where a great many ladies we're gathered
the yachts could be only dimly seen
through the heavy mist.
At noon there was a breeze of about
eight miles an hour, coming in puffs from
the south. The mist was clearing slowly,
and the racers began manoeuvering for a
start. The official signal for them to get
ready was fired at l2:22. Ten minutes
later the Thistle crossed the line, closely
followed by the Volunteer. Both yachts
we're close hauled on the port tack, each
carrying main and club topsails, small lib
topsails and iib and staysails. The This
Ties lead was small, but she seemed to
move the most rapidly in the zephyr.
The little wind blowing was quite variable,
bearing to the west.
The official time of the Thistle crossing
the line was 1875 and the Volunteer
1896. The Thistle at once tackled to
%starboard, heading for Long Island shore.
The result was that she lost her wind en-
tirely, while the Yankee held the light
air. At 1874 the Thistle seemed motion
less, and a few minutes later she began to
move slowly. The Volunteer had mean
time captured a lead of perhaps three
cable lengths. The Yankee heeled along
gracefully. making good time and ~increas.
ing the lead. There was a magnificent
feet of sail, and steam barges behind the
racers, stretching an almost unbroken
line from shore to shore, making the
finest picture ever seen in the bay of New
York. As the Volunteer approached
Fort Wadsworth a great cheer went VI
from the Threats of thousands of spectaeI
Ors. The fleet took up the refrain, and
gave her a rousiDg send off. She was
going very fast. The Thistle had a good
tull sail, but her sails somehow tailed to
draw like the Volunteers. Following the
racers came the great fleet of excursion
lists, and the spectators were unanimous
in crediting the Yankees long lead tC
superior seamanship in holding the frs
tack and catching the breeze off the
shore.
Halt an hour after passing Fort Wads
worth the Nolunteer was almost invisible
in the haze and distance. She had ap
parently decreased her lead to at least two
miles, but when another half hour hac
elapsed the Thistle was footing it along il
a way that promised n close finish. Tht
Thistle seemed tated 10 misfortune anC
when the Volunteer headed for Sand
Hook lighthouse the Scotch yacht wa.
again two miles in the rear.
HIGHLANDS, APO p m.-The NOlun
teer is approaching the Hook. She i
about eighteen minutes ahead.
FORT WADsWORTIL, 5 p. m.-The rae,
will probably be finished by $50 O'Clock
If no accident occurs. The wind hold
strong, and If any change is occurring it i
in the direction Of more wind.
$40 p. M.-The yachts are cOminl
home with the wind blowing Is miles al
hour astern. Both are carrying all thei
light sails, but the Volunteer is seen t,
have maintained her long lead A grea
gathering of sail and steam craft ha
taken place in the vicinity of the finishing
line.
The Volunteer beat the Thistle ~ninetecl
minutes tw%enty-ninG seconds.
The result was a most decisive victor,
for the American sloop. The Thistle los
ground largely on count Of the way tn,
accompanying craft blaukctcd her. Tn
first point, buoy 10, was reached on
beat. Buoy s! was fetched on tn
stretch. as was Sandy Hook lightshiI
the outer mark. From the lightship bacI
to buoy 10 vas a beam wind and from
there home to buoy Is, off Fort Wads
worth, it was a clean run before the wind
with spinakers set. Tie total distdnc
was thirty eight statute miles. Every
HNiS' NNNNlt ~ Nlit W Win iitl 6Illll
akers, when the excursion boats did mucl
to keep the wind from her, the Voluntee
outsailed her antagonist.
After the race Mr.. James Bell, tn
principal officer of the Thistle, SAID tina
he was not at all satisfied with the result
The Thistle, he declared. had never move,
so slowly through the water. He was o
the opinion that there was somethinJ
wrong with the cutters bottom, and shD
would be hauled out of the water to-mor
row with the view of finding out what
was. He did not nsider that the rae
had been sailed for that reason. and be
cause the wind was 80 shifting the Noluu
tccr often had the advantage of the breez
that the Thistle did not feel; besides, tn
excursion boats swashed the Thistle to
damaging extent.
Capt, Barr, Of the Thistle, held I'll
same views. He said thut some of tn
crew had been notified anonymously tina
the cutter bottom had been "doctored,
and the truth would be ascertained befor
Thursday, the day OF the next race
Capt. Barr said he had sailed the Thistl
every time she had been out and he ncve
knew her to move badly on the wind.
Gen. Paine and Mr. Edward Burgess, o
the Volunteer, took the victory quictl